Monday, January 30, 2012

Summary of AZ Speaker Tobin's redistricting bills

STATE CAPITOL, PHOENIX -- Here is a staff summary of Arizona House Speaker Andy Tobin's (R) controversial redistricting bills. This is certain to be a big issue in the legislature this week.

HB 2710 - lays out the framework for a special election to be held May 15, 2012; note: NO appropriation is made to cover the cost of the special election; SOS told Senate staff the election could be $8.3 million.

HCR 2051 - changes the make-up of the Independent Redistricting Commission to have 12 members and removes the appellate court appointment commission's role in selective a pool of applicants for appointment; requires the Speaker to make 3 appointments (no more than 2 from the same party and none of whom are from the same county), House Minority Leader to make 3 appointments (no more than 2 from the same party and none of whom are from the same county), Senate President to make 3 appointments (no more than 2 from the same party and none of whom are from the same county) and then the Senate Minority Leader to make 3 appointments (no more than 2 from the same party and none of whom are from the same county). The Members of the IRC will vote by majority vote to select their chair and vice chair. Requires the IRC to comply with the Open Meeting Law. The existing Commissioners' terms would be considered over and this newly created and appointed Commission would draw maps for use after the 2012 election for the rest of the decade. Allows the governor to appoint a commissioner if a vacancy occurs that is not filled by the legislative leader who made the original appointment. Also allows PCs to be appointed as commissioners as well as members of special taxing districts (this is in response to the Supreme Court case in which it concluded that one of the R nominees was not qualified to run because he was on a taxing district board). Note: no appropriation for the IRC's work is made in this bill.

HCR 2052 - refers to the ballot a measure that, upon adoption of the voters, would put in to place the LEGISLATIVE lines created by the legislature as outlined in HR 2005; if this measure were adopted, it would amend the state constitution to require the legislative maps created by the State Legislature to be adopted instead of the maps created by the Independent Redistricting Commission (IRC) for the year 2012 and the map adopted in 2012 would be used for the remainder of this decade*; it leaves in place the process by which the IRC would draw new lines in 2021. It also designates the AG's office as the attorney for the state's interests on all legal matters related to the LD map. (*NOTE: if HCR 2051 were to pass too, then the map created by the Legislature would only be in place for 2012 election and the newly-organized commission created by HCR 2051 would create maps for use in 2014, 2016, 2018 and 2020).

HCR 2053 - Does the same thing as HCR 2052 but this is only for CONGRESSIONAL districts.

HR 2005 - outlines the new "alternative" maps (incorporated by reference) created by Speaker Tobin (and John Mills); these are the maps that would be adopted as both Congressional and/or Legislative district boundaries if either or both of the HCRs above were passed by the voters

The new maps are not publicly available yet but we are told they are supposed to be on the Legislative website soon.Revised – January 27, 2012 at 2:47 p.m. Prepared by House Democratic Staff